[CQ-Contest] I have seen the future - and it is COOL

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

For those who may have missed it, ZL2HAM's ViewProp is now available 
free in a public beta test. Before you yawn and dismiss ViewProp as just 
another propagation program, hear me out.  This thing is different!

All the propagation prediction programs we are used to - IONCAP, VOACAP 
and their cousins - are based on historical understanding of 
propagation.  They make predictions based on solar parameters and their 
authors quite honestly explain that their results are monthly averages, 
rather than predictions that reflect what you can expect today or tomorrow.

ViewProp is something new.  It bases its reporting on what is happening 
today, on paths between your QTH and locations of interest around the 
world.  It does this by drawing on the Reverse Beacon Network's array of 
hundreds of Skimmers worldwideto keep track of what is being spotted by 
Skimmers in your vicinity, as well as what stations in your vicinity are 
being spotted anywhere else.  The result is a dynamic portrait of 
propagation from your QTH to and from wherever in the world, which bands 
are open and how well.

In addition to showing you a map display of the paths being reported, 
and on what bands, ViewProp also charts the level of activity on 
different bands over the course of each day in a readily-understandable 
format. There's much more to it, too, as you can learn by reading the 
Wiki with more details and a few screenshots: http://zl2ham.wikispaces.com/

I believe this is the first truly revolutionary use of the capabilities 
of the RBN to promote understanding of *your* HF propagation.  Try it, 
and tell us if you agree.  The only thing that Rick asks is that you 
join the Viewprop Yahoo group at 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/viewprop/, and then you can download the 
beta version from the group's Files section.

Try it, and tell him what you like, what you don't, and what you think 
should be added.  I promise you, he is listening.

-- 

73, Pete N4ZR
Check out the Reverse Beacon Network at
http://reversebeacon.net,
blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com.
For spots, please go to your favorite
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